Combined hinge and glass door unit

ABSTRACT

A hinge means for use with glass doors having solid frames includes a hinge element for a pivotal hinge of the type used where the door is pivoted at top and bottom, which element is laterally adjustable to provide means for correcting misalignment after the door has been hung.

w States Patent 1 Horgail, J

1 51 Mar. 27, 1973 COMBINED HINGE AND GLASS DOOR UNIT Inventor:

William J. Horgan, Jr., Pittsburg Assignee: Blumcraft of Pittsburgh,Pittsburgh,

Filed: Jan. 18, 1971 Appl. No.: 107,232

Related US. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser.'No. 820,541,April 30, 1969, Pat. No. 3,555,733.

us. 01. ..16/12'9, 49/388, 16/131 1m. 01. .....E05d 7/04 Field of Search.'...16/129, 130,131, 132, 133,

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,555,733 4/1969 Horgan,.lr..49/388 2,134,444 10/1938 Harsh 16/19 2,976,582 3/ 1961 Rosenthal 1 1 16/1 31 3,148,407 9/ 1964 Glasbrenner 16/ l 29 1,668,839 5/1928 Curetonl6/1 29 X 2,530,331 11/1950 Hubbs 16/1-29 Primary Examiner-Francis K.Zugel Assistant Examiner-Peter A. Aschenbrenner Att0mey-.-Pau1 & PaulABSTRACT A hinge means for use with glass doors having solid framesincludes a hinge element for a pivotal hinge of the type used where thedoor is pivoted at top and bottom, which element is laterally adjustableto 'provide meansfor correcting misalignment after the door has beenhung. I

18 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 COMBINED HINGE AND GLASS noon UNIT CROSSREFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is acontinuation-in-part of my prior copending application Ser. No. 820,541,Filed Apr. 30,1969, now US. Pat. No. 3,555,733 issued Jan. 19, 1971,Entitled, Combined Hingeand Glass Door Unit, and discloses and claims inpart the subject matter disclosed and claimed in that application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to hinges and inparticular to a novel hinge means for use with frame elements on glassdoors.

In the prior art, glass doors of the type used in commercialestablishments having a metal frame including a top and bottom shoe,were hung by means of pivottype hinges connected to the top and bottomshoes. The advantages of my new combined hinge and door means over theprior art were fully set forth in my prior copending applicationreferred to above.

While my prior application represents an improvement over the art, Ihave noted that it is desirable to provide for lateral adjustment of thedoor. at both the top and bottom pivot points after the door has beenhung in place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a means forpivotally mounting a glass door which includes solid frame members andfor laterally adjusting the position of the door with respect to itspivots afterthe door has been hung. It comprises means externallyengaging the frame portion of the door and bearing against it,.whichprovide a means for laterally adjusting the door with respect to thefixed pivot upon which the door is mounted.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to pro vide a novel hingemeans which is adjustable to compensate for lateral misalignment afterthe door is hung, and adaptable for use with existing hinge elements.

It is a further objectto provide such a hinge means which isparticularly adaptable to pivotal hinges of the type used on swingingdoors having solid frame members. 1

These and other objects'of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing description with reference to the bottom,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS lines and arrows 3-3 in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Although specific forms of theinvention have been selected for illustration in the drawings, and thefollowing description is drawn in specific terms for purpose ofdescribing these forms of the invention, this description is notintended to limit the scope of the invention which is defined in theappended claims.

Referring to the FIGS., FIG. 1 shows a door designated generally 10which includes a glass panel 11 and a metal frame including a top shoel2 and a bottom shoe 14. The door is supported by pivot type hingesattached to'the top and bottom shoes and the supporting frame and doorstructure.

, The upper hinge 16 is more clearly shown in FIG. 3

' press fitted therein a bushing 24 forming a bearing for the pintle 26.The pintle is normally retained in the structure surrounding the door byany suitable means well known in the art and provides the means wherebythe upper portion of the door is retained and pivoted.

The housing and bearing remain fixedly engaged to the pintle 26 whilethe frame and glass portion of the door is movable with respect to thehousing.

To shift the door 10 FIG. 1 to the left or right, I have provided anovel hinge means which, in this embodiment, comprises a plurality ofballs disposed in angled slots on both sides of the housing 18 andactuated by set screws threaded through a portion of the housing 18 andactuated by set screws threaded through a portion of the housing 18 toengage the balls and drive them in the slots against the adjoining door.The balls 28 and 30 'in FIG. 3 are preferably steel and are disposed ina close sliding fit in the angled slots 32, 34 respectively.

" These slots are most preferably on an angle of between 30 and 45degrees. Holes 36, 38 are drilled and tapped to receive set screws 40and 42 respectively in threaded engagement. The lead ends of the setscrews are rounded as shown in FIG. 3.

The housing 18 is positioned in a clearance slot in the upper shoe ofthe frame of the door. In the position shown in FIG. 3, this clearanceslot provides a clearance on both sides of the housingjthe clearancebeing designated 44 on the right and 46 on the left.

It will be apparent from what has been described thus far that if it isdesired to shift the door with respect to the pivot or pintle 26 afterit has been hung, the screws 40 and 42 can be advanced or retracted inorder to actuate the balls 28 and 30 and either cause them to beadvanced from their respective slots against the frame of the door orallow them to be forced into the housing 18. Thus, for example, if it isdesired to shift the door to the left when viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3, onewould withdraw the screw 40 slightly and advance the screw 42 againstthe ball 30. As the advancement continued, the door would shift to theleft and the ball 28 would ultimately come to rest against the screw 40.

The hinge just described provides for lateral adjustment of the doorwith respect to the upper pintle. The bottom hinge means providesrotative adjustment as well as lateral adjustment. The bottom shoe 14has attached to it a hinge designated generally 50, FIG. 1, whichsupports the door and provides a means about which it pivots. This hingeis shown in more detail in FIG. 2 and in my prior copending applicationreferred to above. One element of the hinge comprises a floor mountedpintle 52, FIG. 2 which is a standard item well known in the art. Thispintle is mounted to a plate fixed in the floor and can be rotated withthe door. The pintle is generally rectangular in cross section and thesides are beveled inwardly toward the upper end to accept the matinghinge member (as described in my prior copending application). Myinvention insofar as this hinge means is concerned lies in the remainingelements of the hinge in combination with my new door,

as I shall now describe in more detail.

The elements of the hinge which are attached to the door include ahousing 54 which has a peripheral slot about three sides thereof so thatthe side walls form extending flanges 56 (approximately one-half of aninch thick) to engage and overlap the sides of the bottom shoe 14. Theslot in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings is on the order ofthree-fourths of an inch wide, as is the shoe 14. Thus the housing 54 isdesigned to fit snuggly against the sides of the shoe 14, embracing itin a sliding fit. The housing is seated in the notch in the shoe 14 sothat its bottom surface is in the same plane as the bottom of the shoe14.

The shoe 14 is solid around the periphery or base portion thereof and,as described in my copending application, has a channel means formedabove the base on the inner side thereof for reception of the glasspanel 11. The frame, of which the shoe is a part, is attached to andcoacts with the panel 11 so that the hole forms a unitary structure, andaccordingly, a load imparted to the face of the glass panel 11 in orderto open it will be distributed through the frame member 14.

The inner sides 60 and 62 of the housing formed by the peripheral grooveare spaced from the side walls 64 and 66 respectively of the notch inthe shoe 14 to provide a clearance for lateral adjustment. Suchadjustment is made by the balls 68, 70 which are in sliding engagementwith the housing in the angled holes in the housing, and are actuated byset screws 72- and 74 respectively to make up the clearance space. Thehousing then can be adjusted laterally and made to fit snuggly with theheads of the set screws bearing against the balls 68 and 70 which inturn bear against the shoe 14. By extending and retracting the setscrews in the manner previously described the frame and glass portionsof the door can be shifted laterally with respect to the pintle 52. r

The housing 54 has a blind bore which accepts a cap element 82. The capis substantially cylindrical and the top of the cap rests against theblind end of the bore while the sides of the cap rotatably engage thesides of the bore. The cap has a centrally located blind hole disposedaxially therein and having sloping sides to accommodate the upper end ofthe pintle 52.

The cap 82 has an ear 84 extending from one side into a clearance slot86 which extends from one side of. the bore inthe housing. On eitherside of the housing,

set screws 90, 92 are threaded through the walls to engage the ear 84.By advancing one set screw (90,92) relatively more than the other, thehousing can be rotated about the cap 82. By tightening both set screws(90,92) against the ear 84, the housing can be fixed in position withrespect to the cap.

Thus, my invention provides a means for engaging a standard pintle androtating therewith, which means In operation, the housings l8 and 54 areplaced in the notches in the shoes 12 and 14 respectively. If the doordoes not hang correctly or close properly against the jam, rotationaladjustment is possible by means of backing off one of the set screws 90,92 and advancing the other, and lateral adjustment is possible byrelative adjustment of the set screws 72, 74, and 40, 42.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials andarrangement of parts which have been herein described and illustrated inorder to explain the nature of this invention, may be made by thoseskilled in the art within the principal and scope of the invention asexpressed in the following claims.

It will further be understood that the Abstract of the Disclosure setforth above is intended to provide a non-le gal technical statement ofthe contents of the disclosure in compliance with the Rules of Practiceof the United states Patent Office, and is not intended to limit thescope of the invention described and claimed herein.

What is claimed is:

l. A hinge means for use with the frame portion of a door and matingrotatable pintle element, comprising:

a. Means for engaging said pintle for rotation therewith;

b. Housing means rotatably engaging said last mentioned means, andoverlapping and engaging said frame;

0. Adjustment means engaging said housing means and said frame forlaterally adjusting the position of'said frame with respect to saidpintle while the door is in its hung condition.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first mentioned means includesa substantially cylindrical cap having an axial hole therein forreceiving said pintle.

3.'The invention of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a plurality offlanges extending therefrom, said flanges overlapping and beinginsliding engagement with said frame.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said adjustment means includes aplurality of screws threaded through said housing to contact a pluralityof movable elements engaging said frame.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said movable elements comprise aplurality of balls in sliding engagements in a plurality of holes insaid housing.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said housing means includes a bodyhaving a peripheral groove about a portion thereof, said groove formingflanges for engaging'said frame in a snug fit; and plurality of screwsare provided in threaded engagement with said housing v ,means to engagesaid balls, said balls entering in said peripheral groove to extendtherein to contact said frame and fix the lateral position of said framewith respect to said pintle.

7. The invention of claim 2 wherein said cap includes an ear extendingfrom one side thereof and-said housing includes a body having asubstantially cylindrical hole therein for receiving said cap in slidingengagement with the cylindrical portion thereof and a clearance slot forreception of said ear, said ear being spaced from said body within saidslot, and a plurality of screws are disposed to pass in threadedengagement through the walls of said body to contact said ear, saidscrews and said ear providing rotational adjustment means for said doorwith respect to said pintle.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said housing means coacts with saidframe to transmit the rotational force load required to rotate the doorabout the pintle.

9. A combined hinge and door unit, comprising a door including a paneland a plurality of frame members coacting with said panel to form aunitary structure, and a pivotal hinge means for engaging an externalpintle for pivotal movement therewith; said hinge means comprising ahousing means rotatably engaging said pintle and lateral adjustmentmeans engaging said frame and said housing means for laterally adjustingthe position of said frame withrespect to said pintle while said door isin its hung condition.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said housing means includes a bodyhaving a peripheral groove about a portion thereof, said groove formingflanges overlapping and engaging said frame in a snug fit and coactingtherewith to transmit the rotational force necessary to pivot said unitabout said pintle; and said adjustment means includes a plurality ofscrews threaded through said housing to contact a plurality of movableelements engaging said frame.

11. The'invention of claim 10 wherein said movable elements comprise aplurality of balls in sliding engagement with a plurality of holesinsaid housing.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said holes are disposed on anangle with respect to the path of lateral movement of said doors.

13. The invention of claim 11 wherein said balls enter into saidperipheral groove to extend therein to contact said frame.

14. The invention of claim 1 wherein said adjustment means comprises aplurality of engagement means and a plurality of actuating means; saidengagement means being movably mounted within said housing means toextend therefrom; said actuating means engaging said engagement means toposition said engagement means with respect to said housing means.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein said engage- I ment meanscomprises a plurality of balls.

16. The invention of claim 15 wherein said balls are positioned inangled holes withinsaid housing means.

17. The invention of claim 14 wherein said engagement means is freelymovable within said housing means.

18. The invention of claim 14 wherein said actuating means is adjustablefrom without said housing means when said door is in its hung condition.

1: e s a a

1. A hinge means for use with the frame portion of a door and matingrotatable pintle element, comprising: a. Means for engaging said pintlefor rotation therewith; b. Housing means rotatablY engaging said lastmentioned means, and overlapping and engaging said frame; c. Adjustmentmeans engaging said housing means and said frame for laterally adjustingthe position of said frame with respect to said pintle while the door isin its hung condition.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said firstmentioned means includes a substantially cylindrical cap having an axialhole therein for receiving said pintle.
 3. The invention of claim 1wherein said housing includes a plurality of flanges extendingtherefrom, said flanges overlapping and being in sliding engagement withsaid frame.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said adjustment meansincludes a plurality of screws threaded through said housing to contacta plurality of movable elements engaging said frame.
 5. The invention ofclaim 4 wherein said movable elements comprise a plurality of balls insliding engagements in a plurality of holes in said housing.
 6. Theinvention of claim 5 wherein said housing means includes a body having aperipheral groove about a portion thereof, said groove forming flangesfor engaging said frame in a snug fit; and plurality of screws areprovided in threaded engagement with said housing means to engage saidballs, said balls entering in said peripheral groove to extend thereinto contact said frame and fix the lateral position of said frame withrespect to said pintle.
 7. The invention of claim 2 wherein said capincludes an ear extending from one side thereof and said housingincludes a body having a substantially cylindrical hole therein forreceiving said cap in sliding engagement with the cylindrical portionthereof and a clearance slot for reception of said ear, said ear beingspaced from said body within said slot, and a plurality of screws aredisposed to pass in threaded engagement through the walls of said bodyto contact said ear, said screws and said ear providing rotationaladjustment means for said door with respect to said pintle.
 8. Theinvention of claim 1 wherein said housing means coacts with said frameto transmit the rotational force load required to rotate the door aboutthe pintle.
 9. A combined hinge and door unit, comprising a doorincluding a panel and a plurality of frame members coacting with saidpanel to form a unitary structure, and a pivotal hinge means forengaging an external pintle for pivotal movement therewith; said hingemeans comprising a housing means rotatably engaging said pintle andlateral adjustment means engaging said frame and said housing means forlaterally adjusting the position of said frame with respect to saidpintle while said door is in its hung condition.
 10. The invention ofclaim 9 wherein said housing means includes a body having a peripheralgroove about a portion thereof, said groove forming flanges overlappingand engaging said frame in a snug fit and coacting therewith to transmitthe rotational force necessary to pivot said unit about said pintle; andsaid adjustment means includes a plurality of screws threaded throughsaid housing to contact a plurality of movable elements engaging saidframe.
 11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said movable elementscomprise a plurality of balls in sliding engagement with a plurality ofholes in said housing.
 12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said holesare disposed on an angle with respect to the path of lateral movement ofsaid doors.
 13. The invention of claim 11 wherein said balls enter intosaid peripheral groove to extend therein to contact said frame.
 14. Theinvention of claim 1 wherein said adjustment means comprises a pluralityof engagement means and a plurality of actuating means; said engagementmeans being movably mounted within said housing means to extendtherefrom; said actuating means engaging said engagement means toposition said engagement means with respect to said housing means. 15.The invention of claim 14 wherein said engagement means comprises aplurality of balls.
 16. The invention of claim 15 wherein saId balls arepositioned in angled holes within said housing means.
 17. The inventionof claim 14 wherein said engagement means is freely movable within saidhousing means.
 18. The invention of claim 14 wherein said actuatingmeans is adjustable from without said housing means when said door is inits hung condition.